Stories about Digital Activism from September, 2012
Armenia: Government Pressure on NGO
The Washington Post blog features an entry by David Ignatius detailing pressure on an Armenian NGO particularly active online. Founded by former Foreign Minister of Armenia Vartan Oskanian, government pressure on Civilitas is believed linked to his involvement with a former party of power now actively challenging the incumbent president...
Russia: Nation's Top Blogger Headed to Prison?
The criminal investigation targeting Russia's most prominent oppositionist blogger, Alexey Navalny, is heating up. Viacheslav Opalev, the former director of a logging firm in Kirov, has confessed [ru] to participating in the embezzlement of 16 million rubles (over half a million U.S. dollars), and named Navalny as the scheme's mastermind.
Portugal: Unionists Take to the Streets in Protest
Following the biggest popular protest of the last decades in Portugal, on September 15, 2012, every week people have been taking to the streets. More demonstrations were called for September 29, “against the theft of wages, pensions and retirements” by the union confederation CGTP. On Twitter hashtags #29s, #29sPT –...
Ukraine: Protesting the Controversial Defamation Bill
A bill that calls for penalties of up to five years in jail for defamation passed a first reading in the Ukrainian Parliament on Sep. 18. Following the online campaign against the adoption of the bill, its author submitted a request to recall it. The bill isn't history yet, however, and the protest continues.
Panama: Controversial 510 Copyright Bill Approved
The 510 Bill that would regulate copyrights in Panamá was approved on September 26, 2012, by the National Assembly. The outrage against this bill is coming to a boiling point on social networks and Panamá's mainstream media since, among other things, it establishes unprecedented liberties to the legislative body charged with enforcing it.
Australia: Social Media’s Search for Missing Woman
This week Melbourne has seen what is perhaps its biggest and its saddest social media campaign following the disappearance and alleged rape and murder of Jill Meagher.
Czech Republic: Roma Resist Evictions in Ostrava
This summer, Přednádraží, a small neighborhood in Ostrava, has been the site of an intense struggle against unlawful evictions of the predominantly Roma residents. Daniela Kantorova reports on the history of the area and ongoing struggle of its residents.
Spain: Two Journalists on Trial for Revealing Corruption in Catalonia
On September 27, Albano Dante and Marta Sibina, editors of the magazine Cafè amb Llet, will appear in court in Catalonia, Spain. The journalists are being sued for libel by an advisor to the Catalan president after alleging that senior officials are involved in corruption of the health care system.
Hungary: Parliament Forced to Take Domestic Violence Seriously
Despite initial setbacks, the Hungarian public has succeeded in convincing the Parliament to treat the issue of domestic violence seriously.
Russia: Writers Put Down Pens to Stand Atop Soap Boxes
Now, nine people who self-identify as writers are running in the elections for the so-called "Coordinating Council of the Russian Opposition," and a tenth strongly considered registering as a candidate before ultimately dropping out. Bearing in mind that writing is not the most popular of professions, this is a hefty proportion of the total.
Brazil: Media, Citizenship, and Public Policies Under Debate
To explore topics on "Media, Citizenship, and Public Policies" is the invitation launched by the VIII Brazilian Citizen Media Conference, in September 24th and 25th in Brasília, and Global Voices is there too. Get to know in this article some of the debates, initiatives and workshops that will happen.
Japan: Anxiety Over Human Rights Commission Bill
A bill to set up a Human Rights Commission has been met with opposition from different parties and citizens. The bill aims to set up an independent commission for human rights violation such as bullying, descrimination, and slander on the Internet, as an extra-ministerial committe of the Ministry of Justice.
Japan: Petition to Release Violin from Frankfurt Customs
On August 16, 2012, German customs officials at Frankfurt Airport seized a Guarneri violin from Japanese professional musician Yuzuko Horigome when she failed to present correct documentation. They demanded that she pay nearly US$ 500,000 in order to get it back.
Internet Activa: A Course on Digital Rights and Civil Liberties
With the sponsorship of Google and the support of the organization Red Pa Todos, the Karisma foundation has launched Internet Activa, "an open, [free], and digital online course aimed at supporting those who want to actively participate in defending the open, participatory, and free Internet that we know."
Twitter Manifesto Against Violence Targeting Mexican Netizens
After Aleph Jiménez [es] -a member of the #YoSoy132 movement- disappeared in Ensenada, Mexico on September 21, 2012, the website Pulso Ciudadano (Citizen Pulse) republished a Twitter Manifesto [es] against violence targeting netizens to remind us of the danger citizen journalists face in the country.
Colombia: Political Blog ‘Atrabilioso’ Closes Down
After 7 years and thousands of posts by several contributors, the political blog Atrabilioso, managed by journalist Jaime Restrepo Vásquez, closed last August 31. The blog's contributors were critics of President Juan Manuel Santos‘ administration and staunch supporters of former President Álvaro Uribe.
Global: The 2012 edition of ‘Wiki Loves Monuments’
Julien L. wrote the following on numerama.com: The Wiki Loves Monuments copyright-free landmarks photo contest is going particularly well. Nearly a week after its launch, more than 50 000 photographs have been sent in by contributors. And this is just the beginning, because there are still 22 days left to...
Mauritania: March to Commemorate the Passing of Rights Activist
Civil rights organisation Touche pas à ma nationalité TPMN ( in English: Do not interfere with my citizenship) has called for a large march to commemorate the passing of anti-racism activist Lamine Mangane, killed a year ago by authorities in the town of Maghama during protests against a census that marginalized black citizens of Mauritania.
Japan: Misreporting on “1,000 Chinese Boats” Headed for Disputed Islands
The watchdog for accuracy in news reporting in Japan reports [ja] in its website gohoo.org that several major Japanese newspapers have recently written posts on the Senkaku (Diaoyu) Islands, which are currently part of an ownership dispute with China (for example), based on false information.
The Pain of Being Physically or Mentally Challenged in Pakistan
Being a physically or mentally disabled person in Pakistan is a very painful existence because society finds it exceedingly hard to accept people who are a bit different, and who need a little special care. In this post, differently abled people from Pakistan talk about their experiences.
Russia: Human Rights Figures Petition Online to Free May 6 Prisoners
As the din of the Pussy Riot trial fades, some human rights activists in Russia are seeking to shift the public's focus to protesters arrested in connection with violence against police at a mass demonstration in early May. Twenty-three of Russia's most noteworthy intellectuals and activists have signed an online...
